Glossary Terms

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Talipes: A congenital deformity of the foot, which is twisted out of shape or position.
Telomere: A telomere is a microscopic structure found on the end of our chromosomes controlling the number of times a cell can divide and reinvigorate tissue. The telomeres get shorter each time a human cell duplicates and at a certain length the cell stops duplicating altogether. The telomere also prevents the chromosome joining up with any fragments after it has been broken.
Terminal care: Care of a person in the last days or weeks before they die. Terminal care puts the emphasis on making the person free of pain and as comfortable as possible.
Terminal illness: Active and progressive disease which cannot be cured. Curative treatment is no longer possible, but palliative care is.
Therapy: A word often used to mean treatment.
Thoracic: Referring to the chest area.
Thyroid cancer: Cancer of the thyroid gland, an organ at the base of the throat that makes hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight.
Tissue: A group of cells in an animal or plant with a similar structure and particular function.
TME or Total Mesorectal Excision: The removal of the mesorectum, which is a parcel of fat around the rectum. The mesorectum contains blood vessels and lymph glands into which the tumour may spread. The aim of TME is to reduce the risk of the tumour regrowing in the pelvis
Trial: A trial or study is designed to find answers to specific questions about specific diseases.
Triple Assessment: Patients with suspected breast cancer are often sent to triple assessment clinics. The triple assessment involves: 1. breast examination 2. mammogram or ultrasound scan of the breast 3. core biopsy and/or fine needle aspiration of the lump
Tumour: Abnormal swelling or lump. While it can be benign or malignant, the word tumour is often used to mean cancer.
Tumour free excision margins: The area or margin around the wound or excision that is free of cancer cells once a tumour has been cut out.
Tumour marker: A chemical in the blood which may indicate that the patient may have cancer.